News

Still working his way back

Henry, who returned to game action in the Chargers' Jan. 13 playoff loss to the Patriots, acknowledged that he's still not 100 percent at this stage, Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: The tight end only played 14 snaps on offense in his first contest since suffering a torn ACL back in May, but Henry's mere presence on the field following his impressive recovery timetable bodes well for his chances of regaining top form in advance of the 2019 season. With that in mind, he will continue on his rehab path over the next few months leading up to the start of the Chargers' offseason program April 15. Assuming no setbacks in the process, the 24-year-old will look to build off the…read more

Published: Mon, Jan 28 at 10:29am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Sees minimal work in season debut

Henry (knee) played 14 of the Chargers' 71 offensive snaps in Sunday's 41-28 loss to the Patriots in the divisional round. He failed to reel in his lone target of the contest.

Analysis: Cleared to suit up less than eight months after tearing the ACL in his right knee, Henry was only able to contribute in a minimal capacity. Fellow tight ends Antonio Gates (44) and Virgil Green (21) both earned more snaps, even though the Chargers' pass-heavy game script would have typically favored Henry. The limited usage in a win-or-go-home game suggests Henry still hasn't fully recovered from knee surgery, but he should be closer to 100 percent health by the time OTAs begin in the spring.…read more

Published: Mon, Jan 14 at 9:36am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Suits up Sunday

Henry (knee) is listed as active for Sunday's playoff game against the Patriots.

Analysis: Henry, who is bouncing back from surgery to repair his ACL back in May, will thus make his season debut for the Chargers on Sunday. Prior to suffering his injury, the 24-year-old displayed plenty of promise as a pass catcher, and his return to the mix gives QB Philip Rivers another option in the passing game. Given his lengthy absence, Henry figures to be on a "pitch count" Sunday, but we wouldn't be surprised to see him get some red-zone looks in his return to action, with Virgil Green and…read more

Published: Sun, Jan 13 at 8:48am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Expected to play Sunday

Henry (knee) is expected to suit up for Sunday's divisional-round playoff game against the Patriots, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Official confirmation of his status will arrive upon the release of the Chargers' inactives in advance of the team's 1:05 ET contest, but it appears as though Henry, who has been recovering from a torn right ACL that he suffered back in May, will make his season debut Sunday. In such a scenario, he'll provide QB Philip Rivers with another pass-catching weapon, but it's expected that the tight end will be on some sort of "pitch count" in his return to action.

Published: Sun, Jan 13 at 7:39am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Officially questionable for Sunday

Henry (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional-round game in New England, Sam Fortier of The Athletic reports.

Analysis: The Chargers activated Henry from the PUP list Monday, which marked the final day of the 21-day window in which to evaluate him and make sure his right knee could handle game action. Clearly, the team still has some questions regarding the stability of that knee, despite handling every practice rep thrown his way this week. Expect a decision on his availability to become clear with the release of inactives about 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:05 PM ET kickoff. Whether or not Henry suits up,…read more

Published: Fri, Jan 11 at 11:48am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Comes off PUP list

The Chargers have activated Henry (knee) from the team's PUP list.

Analysis: Prior to suffering a torn ACL back in May, Henry was viewed as an ascending talent at the tight end position. Now that he's back in the mix, he'll look to regain that momentum, but it's unclear how much work he'll see in Sunday's divisional-round playoff game against the Patriots. With coach Anthony Lynn already having indicated that Henry will be on some sort of pitch count in his return to game action, the 24-year-old pass catcher is a speculative play in fantasy playoff contests.

Published: Mon, Jan 7 at 10:42am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Likely activation if Bolts advance

Though Henry (knee) won't play Sunday against the Ravens, he would likely be activated from the Chargers' PUP list should the team advance to the divisional round of the playoffs, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Henry, who tore his ACL back in May, has bounced back remarkably well from what seemed destined to sideline him for the entirety of the 2018 campaign (postseason included), but should the Chargers get past the Ravens on Sunday, it appears as though he'll be activated Monday. In the event that occurs, Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com suggests that the tight end would be on a "pitch count," but Henry's return to the mix would be a welcome one, in any case. In 14 games during the 2017 season, the…read more

Published: Sun, Jan 6 at 7:26am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Won't return Sunday

The Chargers won't activate Henry (knee) from the PUP list Saturday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Thus, Henry won't be available for Sunday's wild-card game at Baltimore.

Analysis: Since returning to practice Dec. 17, Henry has increased his practice reps slowly but surely in anticipation of completing his recovery from a torn ACL suffered on May 22. However, he won't take the field for the Chargers' playoff opener, which means his teammates will have to emerge victorious Sunday for him to have any shot to suit up in the divisional round or beyond. With Henry unavailable, the team will continue to trust in Virgil Green and Antonio Gates at tight end, at least for one more…read more

Published: Sat, Jan 5 at 1:09pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Wild-card status still up in air

Coach Anthony Lynn said the Chargers haven't made a decision about Henry (knee) playing in Sunday's wild-card game in Baltimore but noted that the tight end will be on a "pitch count" if he suits up, Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Henry seems to be closing in on a return from a torn ACL in near-record time, with an appearance Sunday marking a little more than seven and a half months from the initial injury. Before that comes to fruition, though, he'll have to activated from the PUP list. As a result, he didn't appear on Wednesday's practice report because he has yet to rejoin the 53-man roster. If he's cleared to play during the Chargers' postseason run, Henry will soak up some of the snaps that have gone to Virgil Green…read more

Published: Wed, Jan 2 at 3:45pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Likely to play in wild-card round

Henry (knee) is expected to be activated from the PUP list and suit up in Sunday's AFC wild-card matchup with the Ravens, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: If Schefter's report comes to pass, it would mean that Henry needed just over seven months to recover from a torn ACL in his right knee, which he sustained during OTAs. The tight end resumed practicing with the Chargers on Dec. 17 and apparently hasn't experienced any setbacks since taking the field, leaving the team optimistic he'll be able to contribute in the postseason. Because of his extensive time off, Henry could be eased into game action with a limited snap count, with the Chargers…read more

Published: Mon, Dec 31 at 6:36am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Return in playoffs possible

General manager Tom Telesco hasn't ruled out Henry (knee) being available for the wild-card round, Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Of course, there are scenarios in which the Chargers don't open the postseason until the divisional round, but all of them include themselves winning at Denver and the Raiders pulling off an upset in Kansas City on Sunday. If the likely outcomes happen, the Chargers will be hitting the road in Round 1, and such a trip could include Henry, who resumed practicing Dec. 17 after tearing his right ACL on May 22. According to Telesco, Henry upped the ante this week, taking part in 7-on-7 and team…read more

Published: Fri, Dec 28 at 1:50pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Returns to practice

Henry (knee) returned to practice Monday, opening a 21-day window for the Chargers to place him on the active roster or rule him out for the rest of the season.

Analysis: Cleared for individual drills less than seven months after suffering an ACL tear, Henry seems to be enjoying an unusually rapid recovery with eyes toward suiting up at some point during the playoffs. He'll presumably be limited to a part-time role if it ends up happening, but he should be headed for a three-down job in a productive offense next season.

Published: Mon, Dec 17 at 1:30pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Ready for individual work

Analysis: The Chargers still haven't placed Henry on injured reserve, holding out hope he can make it back for some sort of contribution during a playoff run. It's safe to assume he won't play Week 16 or 17, but a game appearance in mid-to-late January isn't totally out of the question. Henry suffered a torn ACL on May 22.

Published: Mon, Dec 17 at 12:37pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Return in 2018 still considered long shot

Though the Chargers are hopeful Henry (knee) will be ready to come off the PUP list at some point in December, his return is still viewed as a "long shot," Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Henry tore the ACL in his right knee during OTAs in May, with the timing of the injury expected to keep him sidelined for the entire 2018 season. While that still appears to be the most likely scenario, Henry has at least increased his chance of a possible return by progressing to running and squatting in recent weeks. Moreover, the tight end has relayed that he has suffered no setbacks in his rehab to date, which keeps the door open for the tight end to make an impact for the Chargers late in…read more

Published: Mon, Nov 5 at 6:46am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Team hopeful for return this season

The Chargers are hopeful Henry (knee) will be able to be activated from injured reserve at some point next month, Adam Schefter reported on ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown" program.

Analysis: Henry has been on the PUP list since tearing the ACL in his right knee on May 22, indicating the Chargers had some level of hope that the tight end may be available if the team reached the postseason. After he was seen running with a brace on the knee in mid-September, the best-case scenario was believed to be a return before the end of the regular season. Schefter confirmed as much Sunday, but it's difficult to trust that the third-year tight end will indeed be available for the fantasy…read more

Published: Sun, Nov 4 at 9:35am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Remains on PUP list, unlikely to play this season

With the Chargers on bye this week, Henry (knee) remains on the team's PUP list.

Analysis: Last month Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times relayed that the tight end had progressed to the point that he was able to run diagonal sprints while wearing a knee brace. That said, given the timing of Henry's torn ACL (May 22), the odds have never favored him playing this season, though his placement on the Chargers' PUP list left open that small possibility. With that in mind, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports noted this past Sunday that the "odds of (Henry) actually making it back this…read more

Published: Thu, Oct 25 at 9:45am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Runs with knee brace Friday

Henry ran diagonal sprints with a brace on his right knee Friday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. "It's so soon," coach Anthony Lynn said. "I was amazed at how he looked today. He's been doing stuff on the side all along, but today he kind of took it to another level."

Analysis: The Chargers made curious moves by placing Henry on the PUP list at the start of training camp and keeping him there after cutting the roster to 53 on Sept. 1. Despite tearing the ACL in his right knee on May 22, there seemed to be some hope that he'd be able to return during the postseason, but Friday's development may move up that timetable by the sound of Lynn's comments. While Henry continues his recovery, Antonio Gates and Virgil Green will split the TE reps between them.

Published: Fri, Sep 14 at 4:36pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Staying on PUP list

Henry (knee) will be on the PUP list to start the season, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Henry tore an ACL on May 22 and is an extreme long shot to play this season, but the Chargers aren't quite ready to shut the door on the possibility. There's a good chance he's moved to injured reserve at some point, as even a deep playoff run would put him at just eight months removed from the initial injury. The Chargers are left with one of the weaker TE groups in the league, led by offseason acquisition Virgil Green.

Published: Sat, Sep 1 at 1:56pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Likely headed to IR

The Chargers will likely place Henry (right ACL) on IR during final roster cuts, ESPN's Eric D. Williams reports.

Analysis: Per the report, Henry, who suffered his knee injury May 22 and then underwent surgery two weeks later, "is moving pretty well on the field and has been very engaged during practice." While the tight end hasn't officially been ruled out for the rest of the season, we suspect that will eventually be the case, with his long-term future in mind.

Published: Sun, Aug 19 at 10:25am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Placed on PUP list

Henry (knee) has been placed on the PUP list, Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Analysis: Henry tore the ACL in his right knee in May and will eventually be placed on injured reserve. He should have plenty of time to get healthy before Week 1 of 2019, at which point he'll step back in as the Chargers' No. 1 tight end. In the meantime, the Chargers are left with an uninspired group, though Antonio Gates may eventually be re-signed to help the situation.

Published: Fri, Jul 27 at 1:59pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

ACL surgery on tap

It has been confirmed that Henry, who tore his right ACL on Tuesday, is slated to undergo season-ending surgery, the San Diego Union Tribune reports.

Analysis: Henry, who caught 45 passes (on 63 targets) for 579 yards and four TDs in 14 games last season, appeared poised for an uptick in production this year, with the team's intentions to move on from veteran tight end Antonio Gates, who logged 52 targets in 2017. In the wake of Henry's injury, however, it's conceivable that Gates could return to Los Angeles after all. Moreover, the likes of Julius Thomas, Coby Fleener and Marcedes Lewis, among others, are available in free agency. Offseason…read more

Published: Thu, May 24 at 8:45am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Tears ACL, out for season

Henry tore his ACL in OTAs on Tuesday and will miss the 2018 season, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Though Schefter noted Henry and the club will seek a second opinion Wednesday, Schefter's source says Henry will not suit up this coming season. After snagging 12 touchdown passes over his first two with the Chargers, Henry was slated for an uptick in responsibility after Antonio Gates wasn't re-signed. Henry and Gates split snaps the last two years, and Henry was targeted 4.43 times per game in 2017, compared to 3.3 targets for Gates. The No. 35 pick in 2016 projected to be a top TE in the…read more

Published: Tue, May 22 at 6:59pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Ready for bigger role

Henry said he's ready to step up after learning that Antonio Gates won't be back with the Chargers, Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times reports.

Analysis: The No. 35 pick from the 2016 draft, Henry was one of the most efficient tight ends in the league on a per-target basis while splitting snaps with Gates the past two seasons. The 23-year-old parlayed 117 targets into 81 catches for 1,057 yards and 12 touchdowns in 29 games, essentially posting a single-season Rob Gronkowski stat line over the course of two years. With Gates replaced by blocking specialist Virgil Green in the Chargers' tight end room, Henry figures to improve upon last year's…read more

Published: Tue, May 1 at 7:01am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Recovered from lacerated kidney

Henry (abdomen) is healthy and participating in the Chargers' offseason program, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Analysis: Henry, who's bouncing back from a lacerated kidney, was seen running routes with the Chargers' first-team offense -- which is a unit that no longer features longtime tight end Antonio Gates, whose contract expired after the 2017 season. While there are still plenty of mouths to feed in the passing game -- namely receiver Keenan Allen, but also Tyrell Williams, Mike Williams, Travis Benjamin and running back Melvin Gordon -- Henry is one of the best young talents at his position who's already…read more

Published: Mon, Apr 30 at 6:39pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Expected to be ready for offseason program

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said Thursday that he expected Henry (abdomen) to be ready for the start of the offseason program.

Analysis: Henry was placed on injured reserve midway through December with a minor laceration of his kidney, which left him sidelined for the final two games of the regular season. However, it doesn't look like the injury will affect the tight end's status for any upcoming offseason work. Expect Henry, who posted 45 receptions for 579 yards and four touchdowns in 2017, to be fully healthy as the Chargers' No. 1 tight end at the start of the season.

Published: Thu, Mar 1 at 8:05am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Placed on injured reserve

Henry (abdomen) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, Ricky Henne of the Chargers' official site reports.

Analysis: Henry was placed on IR with a small laceration on his kidney, which he suffered in Saturday night's loss to the Chiefs. His season comes to an end after 14 contests in which he recorded 45 receptions for 579 yards and four touchdowns. Look for the Chargers to deploy some combination of Antonio Gates, Jeff Cumberland and Sean McGrath for the final two games of the regular season as they fight to stay in the playoff hunt.

Published: Tue, Dec 19 at 2:37pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Diagnosed with kidney laceration

Henry has been diagnosed with a minor laceration of his kidney, putting his status up in the air for the final two weeks of the season, Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Analysis: While it isn't quite clear when he was injured, Henry didn't make any appearances in the box score after the opening drive of the second half in Saturday's 30-13 loss to the Chiefs. He finished the night with only three catches for 28 yards on three targets, falling shy of four catches and 50 yards for the first time since Week 11. Should Henry end up missing Sunday's game against the Jets, his usual role likely would be filled by some combination of Antonio Gates, Jeff Cumberland and Sean…read more

Published: Mon, Dec 18 at 1:56pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Henry suffered an undisclosed injury during Saturday's loss to the Chiefs, Chris Wesseling of NFL.com reports.

Analysis: Henry did catch all three of his targets, but they ended up being for an empty 28 yards, and Antonio Gates ended up with the Chargers' only receiving score. More to follow on Henry's status for next week's must-win game against the Jets, but at least he'll have an extra day to recover.

Published: Sat, Dec 16 at 11:28pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Henry (calf) returned to a full practice Wednesday.

Analysis: Henry is thus on track to suit up Saturday against the Chiefs. He's on the Week 15 fantasy radar, having come on of late, while hauling in 16 passes (on 20 targets) for 207 and two TDs over the course of his last three games.

Published: Wed, Dec 13 at 2:54pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Henry (calf) was limited in practice Tuesday.

Analysis: Henry appeared on the practice report after logging 43 snaps in Sunday's win over the Redskins. The tight end has been limited in practices earlier this season but has never missed a game. Should he miss any time, veteran Antonio Gates would likely see increased offensive reps.

Published: Tue, Dec 12 at 6:32pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Henry hauled in four passes (on six targets) for 50 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's victory over the Redskins.

Analysis: Henry turned in a third-straight solid performance in Week 14, bringing in an eight-yard scoring toss from quarterback Philip Rivers in the first quarter. With the Chargers offense rolling and Henry serving at a fairly shallow tight end position, he will be a great fantasy option in most formats over the last three weeks of the season.

Published: Sun, Dec 10 at 5:24pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Though it was expected that Henry (knee) would be limited at practice Wednesday, he wasn't listed on the Chargers' initial Week 14 injury report.

Analysis: Henry came out of the team's Week 13 win over Cleveland with some knee soreness, but it evidently wasn't something that will impact the tight end's status for Sunday's game against Washington. The 2016 second-round pick logged a season-high nine targets against the Browns, hauling in seven passes for 81 yards.

Published: Wed, Dec 6 at 3:09pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Starts week with limited practice

Analysis: Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn downplayed the injury after watching Henry catch seven passes for 81 yards on a career-high nine targets in Sunday's 19-10 win over the Browns. Henry's ability to practice Wednesday, even in a limited capacity, puts him on track for a Week 14 matchup with a Washington defense that has yielded the third-most receiving yards to tight ends (67 per game) in the NFL this season.

Published: Wed, Dec 6 at 11:33am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Henry came out of Sunday's 19-10 win over the Browns with a sore knee, but Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn expects the tight end to be okay, Eric Williams of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: Henry didn't appear hobbled Sunday, catching seven passes for 81 yards on a career-high nine targets while playing 71 percent of the snaps on offense. He may show up on the injury report this week, but it doesn't sound as if he's in much danger of missing Sunday's favorable matchup against a Washington defense that's surrendered 9.0 yards per target to tight ends this season.

Published: Mon, Dec 4 at 2:30pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Henry caught seven of his nine targets for 81 yards in the 19-10 win Sunday over the Browns.

Analysis: Given the Browns season-long struggles to cover the tight end, Henry figured to be a focal point of the offense Sunday, turning a season-high in targets to a career-tying mark in receptions. While ESPN's Eric D. Williams did note that Hunter Henry appeared to take a big hit to the legs near the end of the contest, the lack of attention to the injury post game likely is a positive indication moving forward. Fantasy owners will want to pay attention to the practice reports Tuesday, but should…read more

Published: Sun, Dec 3 at 6:27pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Henry caught all five of his targets for 76 yards and a touchdown in the 28-6 win over the Cowboys on Thursday.

Analysis: The Chargers offense as a whole was efficient, with quarterback Philip Rivers throwing for 434 yards in the win. Henry certainly factored into that equation, compiling 76 yards, more than he had combined in the three weeks prior. His lack of red zone targets will likely hamper his ceiling, but given the Chargers offensive explosion in the last few weeks, Henry remains a low-end No. 1 fantasy tight end, particularly next Sunday against the lowly Browns.

Published: Thu, Nov 23 at 5:15pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Henry was a non-factor in the 54-24 rout of the Bills on Sunday, catching two of his five targets for 25 yards.

Analysis: It's clear by this point that Henry is merely the third or fourth option in the Chargers' balanced passing attack, as the offense continues to work through Melvin Gordon and Keenan Allen. Despite seeing the fourth-most targets on the team, Henry is firmly muddled in an offense content on spreading the ball around, and as a result remains simply a high-end secondary option at tight end for fantasy owners.

Published: Mon, Nov 20 at 11:42am by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com

Henry was kept in check Sunday, recording one catch for seven yards in the 20-17 overtime loss to the Jaguars.

Analysis: Henry predictably struggled against the Jaguars, with the Chargers rarely looking the second-year player's way. It doesn't get much easier for Henry next week against the Bills, as they've allowed just two touchdowns to tight ends all season.

Published: Mon, Nov 13 at 12:24pm by Rotowire.comMore news and analysis available atNFL.com